The Return (Part 3)

Chapter 14

Separation

Po walked ever so slowly across the eternal snow-filled canyon, carrying his master tightly with his right paw. He leaned against the hard-blowing wind, as the now black snow froze the fur on his face. He had to turn away to breathe in, because if he did not, the wind would force so much air into his system, that he would gasp just to keep himself from breathing it in too much. He was in so much pain, misery, guilt, and sorrow, that he could barely contain himself. He didn't know it would end up this way... just as his master's master, Oogway predicted.

He looked up, to see endless skies of black clouds. The ground underneath him was the same shade of black, and everything almost looked like it was night time. Maybe it was. He screamed into the emptiness of the wind, as he harshly mourned to the deaths of his fellow friends, no, his family. He didn't know what Sky could've done to the village now... but at least Po had the Dragon Scroll. That's all that mattered.

An idea popped up in Po's head, but he soon rejected it, knowing it couldn't be done. The Dragon Scroll could have no use for him here. He slowly opened his eyes, as he looked at the one he rescued from Sky's rampage. It was Master Shifu, passed out, more like knocked out, by Viper. Po then looked at his other hand, which was carrying the Dragon Scroll. He shook his head once again at the thought, but soon decided to try it. He stood up from leaning forward from the winds, ad stumbled from it knocking him over. Getting up again, he closed his eyes in thought.... as he thought.... and calmed, as everything around him did also.

Gasping, Po opened his eyes soon to see around him was like an invisible shield. It was a bubble? The bubble was protecting him from the bitter blowing snow that was all around him. Snow hit the bubble hard, but it was not enough to wear it out. It worked! He thought he could have some kind of protection from this weather, and there it was. Lowering his shoulders, he set his master down on the cold ground.

"Chh. What a thought. A bubble?" He looked around once more. He believed it would happen, and it did. So... the Dragon Scroll can do almost anything? The panda was in deep thought, as he opened up the scroll, revealing golden paper. It shown himself. He quickly turned to sorrow and discomfort. As he looked upon himself, the image started to change. It showed a being... a black and white being... a spotted, black and white one. It slowly walked towards Po, not showing its eyes. Po squinted at the sight.

"He will be a light in the darkest of places, Po." A voice came.

Po perked up. "Oogway?"

"Turn around." The voice ordered.

Po turned around to see his master, Shifu. He gasped, soon running over to his master. "Oh my gosh... look at what I've done! Look at the sky! Look at me! I-"

"Slow down, Po. I need to know what happened. I'm sure it's something we can handle." Shifu comforted Po with his words.

Po sniffed. "Sky came back, along with Tai Lung. Sky... I think either hurt or... killed Tai Lung. He... killed the Furious Five... and-"

"What?" Shifu was fuming. The ground below him started to melt. Weird.

"Yes... he killed all of them... and took over the Jade Palace." Po could feel a lump in his throat.

Master Shifu fell to his knees, as he stared off into the distance. His mouth was open, as he remembered the encounter with him and Tai Lung just before red snow started to fall. And now it was... black? "I... I trained all of them! Why? Why couldn't they defeat a simple enemy! They were... they were the five best warriors in China!"

Po sighed, looking away, as tears stained his fur. "Possibly in China... but not North America."

Shifu twitched his eyes to Po. "Who's North America? Do I know them?"

"Another country in which most of China despises for their beliefs. Sky came from there many years ago, and learned his talents here, in China."

Shifu squinted at the panda. "How would you know all this?"

Po held up the scroll. "This."

"Ah. So why are we here?" Shifu asked urgently.

"I umm..." He hesitated for a long while. "I escaped before Skyler killed me, and left the five." Po cringed at the soon to be outburst from his master, telling him he should have fought.

"Well done." Master Shifu smiled awkwardly.

"W-what? I thought you would kill me for saying such a thing?"

"I know I would! I was being sarcastic. Really, why are we here?" He stared at Po blankly, yet smiling.

Po put his two paws together, as he twiddled with his fingers. He looked around, as he tried to avoid his master, who was staring at him still. Seconds passed.

"Po?" Master Shifu asked politely, yet somewhat angry.

Po brought his head and eyes back to his master. "Hmm?"

"You didn't really... run, did you?" Shifu clenched his fists, as he walked towards his student. "You... you stood aside and left my students to be slaughtered? You ran from near victory, and just... stood aside while the ones I have been training for years died off? My students?" He started to drabble on, while Po shook his head, as he tried to force words out of his clumped throat, but nothing came out. "Po, they were my students! My... my infants! I was their guardian! All I wanted to do was keep everything under control..." Shifu looked down, as he backed away from the panda, letting droplets of his cry fall from his now somewhat red, watery eyes.

Po collapsed to the ground, as he dropped the scroll, slightly crying. "It wasn't like that! I... I ran because he killed Tigress right before my eyes! I couldn't stand the sight! Please... Master Shifu..."

Shifu perked his head up, as his two white whiskers went flying. "You let Tigress get killed right in front of you? Why didn't you stop Sky from killing her!"

"I didn't mean for her to be killed! I tried all I could..."

"Well apparently not enough!" Master Shifu stopped, as he breathed in, calming himself. He looked up at the sky. "It's black.... the Peach Tree..." Thinking, he realized then what was going on. "The Peach Tree!" He looked back across to his student. "Don't you know what the death of our Peach Tree of Heavenly Wisdom causes? Don't you?"

Po looked back up at Master Shifu. "I don't... I don't!"

Shifu breathed out, shuttering. "It causes all those who train in Kung Fu to lose their ability to fight... to remember... to, to think at all! It makes you go mad!" He walked in a circle, thinking. "You're getting wiser... and I'm losing my wisdom. I won't know how to fight! Soon enough... I won't even know what Kung Fu is! Po... I won't be a master of Kung Fu any longer! That's probably why it gave that wolf such an advantage!" Shifu blinked, as he panted from his ongoing talking. He then sat down blankly, and stared at the black snow. He grinned, then started laughing historically. "You... you caused all of this!" Shifu shook his head while he still laughed. He laid down on the black snow. "You were never meant to be the Dragon Warrior..."

Po was shocked at his master's words. "That's.. not true! Master! I've been training with you for four years, as I have also been the Dragon Warrior for the same! I know I was meant to be it! Master Oogway predicted-"

"I don't care what my master predicted!" Shifu got up, and stared at Po angrily. "Sometimes... you just can't listen to your masters words..." He turned his head to the side, soon thinking again of his students getting slaughtered, and turned to face Po. "The Furious Five were the most valued beings in all China... the choosing of the Dragon Warrior was supposed to be rewarded to Tigress... But you came in to ruin it all! And... and look at where we are now!" He bolted over to the panda and slid to knock over his legs, as he tumbled over.

Po looked at Shifu desperately while he was laying on the ground. "No... Master Shifu..." He slowly got up, as Shifu stared at him furiously. "I was chosen because Oogway knew that I was supposed to be the Dragon Warrior!"

"Then why don't you get your scrawny little butt back to the Jade Palace and end what you started!" Shifu took a step foreward, as he clenched his fists even tighter now.

Po was struck by shock. "I..." He looked away with teary eyes, as he couldn't go back to where his friends were once killed. "I can't..." He turned around, as he breathed out a large white cloud.

Seconds passed of silence, as Master Shifu lowered his shoulders, feeling a bit of pity on his best student. "Po..." He slowly made his way to the sobbing panda. "Then hand over the dragon scroll..." He took hold of the scroll. "I'll do it myself-"

"No!" Po turned around, as slapped his master away, and into the snow. He looked at Shifu with desperate eyes, while Shifu looked at him with innocent eyes. "I'm not going back! If you won't agree with me... then..." He turned to look at the bubble that they were in, as he started to want it to pop. "Then I'll have to leave you." He blinked, as his vision went blurry. He crouched down, sighed, and braced himself for the wind to come back. "I give up on Kung Fu."

Master Shifu quickly got up, and stared at the panda with cautious eyes. "Po? Po what are you doing! You do not leave your master! Hand over the Dragon Scroll!"

The bubble that was protecting them from the snow now popped, as the black snow came storming in. Master Shifu was blown off his feet. He tried to get back onto the ground, but it was too late. He was already swept away, while the selfish panda made his way to the farthest point in which he came: The Jade Palace.

"I have called upon you for a meeting regarding one of our most prized possessions: The Dragon Scroll." The alpha white wolf; Skyler, growled, as he walked back and forth, hands behind his back. "It is no where within this palace. Although, I did find..." He snapped his fingers, as the wall behind him turned, showing a muscular snow leopard, tied to four massive ropes that were neatly tied. He was wide awake, as he stared the wolf down. "...Tai Lung, the one who I fought many years ago, and now has come back." Sky smiled, as he turned back to his team mates. Sorus, Miraji, Kuwon, and Thailaan were standing straight, with their arms to their side, looking straight ahead.

Tai Lung's stomach seemed to be patched up after Sky's stabbing. The wolf looked back at Tai Lung, soon chuckling, and punching him painfully hard in the stomach, making him lose his air. Sky then sighed, as he took his middle finger and thumb, placed it on the snow leopards chin, and lifted up, revealing his head. "What am I to do with you...?" Sky squinted in thought, as he quickly punched Tai Lung powerfully, right in the chin.

Thailaan stepped forward. "Take it easy!" She blinked, then looked around to the others, who were now staring her down. "He... might hold important information." She stepped back, with a bit of innocence in her tone.

"Don't worry dear, he won't kill em. Right?" Kuwon chuckled gladly. He always seemed to be happy about something, even when it was something bad, like the black snow that was falling outside. While on his way to the Jade Palace, he played in it, just because it looked different. A grown animal: playing in the snow, in this time.

Sky nodded. "Right. I'll just keep him here until I get the right information I need."

"What info do you need, damn it!" Tai Lung coughed, soon swallowing.

The polar bear, Sorus, stomped forward. "Speak again, and you'll find a mace where your mouth is, you fool!" He ran for the snow leopard, battle ready.

Sky stopped him with a simple fist. "Manage your anger! Stay low. You'll get a piece of him later." Sky forcefully pushed the bear back into his place. Sorus stumbled back, staring at Tai Lung.

Miraji took a step forward, as he slowly walked over the Sky, eyes closed. He slowly walked to the wolf's ear, and spoke. Seconds passed, as Sky quickly nodded. "Yes... yes that would do good." The wolf then turned to Tai Lung. "If you won't tell me where the Dragon Scroll is, then we," He turned to present his mates. "...will have to look for it ourselves." He slightly turned once more to his guests. "Lets away to the valley, and see how they're holding up. Also, we look for that scroll, to kill or not to kill. We will search the valley until every last corner of it is searched." He walked past his mates, as they turned to follow him, weapons to their side.

Master Shifu awoke with a quick gasp, as he opened his eyes. He looked down, finding half of his body was buried in the black snow. The falling snow started to calm a bit, but it still snowed much. Getting out, he stumbled. Blinking, he rubbed his head, remembering he was swept away from the strong winds of this blizzard. He looked at his surroundings, finding he was on the cliff side of the Jade Palace. This was perfect, yet horrible at the same time. He was less-wise than what he once was, but he still had the mind to go into the palace and kill that wretched wolf, Sky.

Shifu shivered from the black snow that slowly fell in bunches all around him. He was wet all over from the snow melting over his fur. He had enough fur to last him through a long walk through the inky snow, but not enough to dry up the wet spots that now stained his uniform. He clenched his fists, thinking of Po leaving him. Po was too stubborn to keep his master with him at this time. Shifu closed his eyes. "Shake it off!" He breathed out hard, as he thought of what the panda might be going through at this time, and why he just let go to Shifu. "I forgive you, Po..." He looked down the cliff, as he soon jumped gracefully down it, heading for the Jade Palace. "I forgive your foolishness." He flew through the air, as his eyes grew watery from the cold wind hitting it. His goal: To reach where Sky was, kill him, and restore peace back to the one and only valley, The Valley of Peace.

Tai Lung's eyes were closed, as he meditated, while still tied up. He was in recovery of the wound Sky gave to him just a couple days ago in their battle. He thought about Viper, Monkey, Mantis, Crane, and especially, Tigress. She was gone, and he had nothing to do about it. The snow leopard was a worn down a tad bit from his new wound.

Finding the voices have trailed off, Tai Lung opened his eyes furiously. He picked up his head, and saw his feet and arms were tied to the wall. He breathed out slowly, as he blinked into his right arm's direction. Meditating, and forcing all his strength to his right arm, he flexed. The rope easily broke. Doing the same with the other ropes, he made it out. Those fools, underestimating Tai Lung's strength! The ropes were rather large though, and were very fat, maybe about a foot wide. The snow leopard rubbed his wrists, as he looked around. He was in the Jade Palace. Thinking madly, he rushed out to the warriors hall, where the six master's rooms were, as he hoped to see someone... anyone there. Rushing into the hall, he found nothing, just a smashed ceiling. And... ash? A massive pile of it was laying on the floor, below the hole in the ceiling. Looking up, the leopard found it was raining ash.

The building was on fire? Gasping, Tai Lung jumped up, smashed through the roof, and looked around, still in mid-air. The building was not on fire... but the ash was still raining from the sky. How could this happen? Landing on the training field, he saw the black stuff was everywhere now. His feet were chilled by it. It wasn't ash... it was... snow? He knelt down, as he went to touch the ground, finding it was as cold as snow. Even a bit colder than snow.

Thinking angrily, Tai Lung recalled the tale of the planting of the peach tree: and how wisdom and balance is all that matters in kung fu. That was in the peach tree: Balance, wisdom, and mind. He turned to where the peach tree would have been, and rushed over to it, eyes thinning in shock by the second.

Once arriving at the tree, he saw its stump was barely sticking out of the black ground. He grunted, as he knew exactly what happened to it. It was cut down! By... by... He could only come up with one being that would do such a thing. Sky. That's when he figured out how he defeated the furious five, along with Po. Was Po dead, he thought? He turned to look among the beautiful scenery.

"He couldn't be... if he was dead, Sky would have the dragon scroll by now..." The snow leopard twitched, as a thought popped up in his head. "He's still alive?"

Po groaned and moaned at the sharp pain of the snow melting all over his skin and freezing again. He dragged his large body against the snow, as he quickly got shivers everywhere. He knew that beyond this canyon was a desert, a desert where it never snowed... although it was kind of awkward thinking that now... because the Peach Tree was cut down. Because it was cut down, it would have snowed black blood all over the valley... and canyon! It would have... wait...

Po saw the ground beneath him was very warm... and didn't feel like snow. He looked up, as he soon found clear skies. "What?" Getting up, he looked at his feet. Below them... was sand. Sand? Is this the desert? Po looked behind himself, finding the snow faded just a couple yards beyond his feet. Yup, this was the desert. Beyond this desert was a town... one by the name of Jing Zi. This town was said to be one of the most beautiful towns in all China. It had mountain ranges, lakes, and it almost never snowed. The lake the town was by stayed hot because of the near volcanoes around it. The townsfolk loved to bathe in it everyday, because its temperature was just right, all year round. It was like the Jade Palace's hot springs, only much larger.

Many minutes passed, as Po dragged his feet, clenching the Dragon Scroll. Sighing, he thought he could escape into Jing Zi, just for a vacation. For a long, long vacation in which he would never return. Why was he protecting the Dragon Scroll from his own master? He didn't know. Maybe the Dragon Scroll takes hold of its owner, making him not want to return it.

Once a couple miles of walking to the town, Po saw he was walking by the steaming lake. White snow was piled up all around the river... but was only a couple inches high. In Southern China, there are many mountains, and in that case, it snowed much. Very, very much. So much, the animals had to hide away, inside of their little houses just to stay safe from the falling snow. Po looked down at the lake, saw a glimpse of an animal, maybe him, and stopped walking. Looking down at the somewhat ripply water, he focused his mind. The water settled, as the reflection shone greatly.

The reflection on the steaming lake's water shown a fox. A red, feminine fox. She seemed... athletic, and healthy... and, attractive. She was holding a weapon... a fairly large and unique weapon. Swinging it around, she managed to hit a being... a white one. A wolf? Po gasped, as he blinked at the image. Was it Sky? Shaking his head in confusion, the panda looked back at the water. There that fox was... beating up on the wolf Po knew was Sky. She slashed at his stomach, as he dodged it. Her massive sword sliced through his pants, though, revealing a bit of his upper thigh. Growling, the wolf pounced on her, and started hitting her. The panda backed away slowly. What's causing me to see such things?Po breathed hard, as he saw the fox got knocked unconcious. The wolf took her by her shirt, and pounced up. It looked like they were first in the basement of a house or something.

Po looked closer at the reflection on the water. The wolf pinned the passed out fox to a wall, kissed her, and stabbed her hard in the chest. Po gasped, as he fell to the ground. He blinked, as his eyes went wide. "Sky... he killed an innocent person! But... but who?" Po breathed out a large white cloud, as he heard a hooing sound. He got up, and turned around fast, finding a white... something... floating out of a house. It wasn't snow.... no, it was... a spirit? He ran over to it, as it ran away from him, headed up a path to a mountain.

"Hey... hey wait!" Po held up his arm, as he chased the spirit up the mountain, more confused than he has ever been before.

Sky bolted his eyes around mourning valley. All the pigs and rabbits were useless! They just stood around and cried, knowing nothing could be changed. They were all mostly shocked from the black snow that now stopped snowing.

The wolf finally clenched his fists at a rabbit that was sitting there, staring at him with wide eyes. "What?? What is it? Why do you stare at me like that?" Sky raised his paw and slapped the rabbit clear across the road, until he crashed into a building. He chuckled at the rabbit's face; how innocent it was.

The other four walked slowly behind him. Sorus was looking around frantically, growling at everything he saw. Miraji looked calm as usual, glancing and nodding at everyone once in a while just to say a kind, proper hello, still knowing he was going to be killing them any second, on Skyler's command. Kuwon's ears were twitching, as he ran on all fours to keep up with his master: Sky. He and Sky were close friends, Sky was the thinker, and Kuwon was the... one who always attempted to get things done. He failed in much of it though, for he hasn't learned discipline yet. Thailaan was looking around cautiously, as she sighed every now and then; feeling a little pity for the townsfolk. It was a rule not to feel pity on others... but she did nonetheless, for that was her character.

Sky looked at the pigs that were staring at the rabbit that now just got up.

"Hey what's your problem?" A pig came up to Sky and looked at him. "Why would you do something like that? You don't look like you're from here."

Sky snickered. "Well, of course. I'm not fat."

Kuwon laughed childishly. "Good one! I wish I could come up with stuff like that..." He sat down, as he scratched his left ear with his paw.

Pigs and rabbits started to gather around the five. "Why are you here?", "Who do you think you are?", "So you just barge in and start throwing animals around, huh?"

Sky put his hand on his head from the noise. They kept talking to him, and now a banging sensation filled his ears. He blinked. "I came here for... you all... I need to..." He stumbled back from the noise, grunting. "Shut up!" He panted.

The townsfolk didn't settle down.

"Ugh... never have I heard so much noise!" Sky clenched his fists, as he stared at the four. "Kill them, damnit!"

"My pleasure!" Kuwon smiled, giving away his stench and yellow teeth. He pounced on a fat pig. "Oh, looks like we're having a feast tonight, guys!" He opened his mouth, and withdrew his claws. He started to strike the pig.

Thmmp! Tai Lung dove in after Kuwon, kicking his nose powerfully with his left foot. The snow leopard and lynx went flying across the floor. "You... will not... hurt these townsfolk!" He threw punches at Kuwon, just as the other four including Sky came sprinting over to Tai Lung, wondering how he escaped.

"Oh, not like you did just fourteen years ago?" A voice came from above. Everybody froze, along with the snow leopard. He looked up, and saw his old master, Master Shifu staring him down.

Tai Lung shot his head back down to the lynx, and punched him once more in the mouth, making saliva come from it. While still attacking, he spoke. "I will not repeat what I once said to you! I changed, and if you don't beieve me... I won't care!" One last punch almost knocked out Kuwon.

Tai Lung looked back up at Shifu for an approval, finding he was not there anymore. He looked behind himself, finding the four rivals were no where to be found. The townsfolk cleared the way. They seemed to be looking at something else. Tai Lung got off of Kuwon, and turned around. His eyes widened, as he saw Master Shifu taking on all four of the five. No... just three. Where was... Tai Lung counted again. Where was that snow leopard?

Bam! A fist met Tai Lung's face. It was Kuwon.

"Ouch, you're gonna feel that one in the morning." Kuwon's red eyes thinned, as he threw another fist at Tai Lung's chest. Tai Lung caught the fist, and twisted. Finding a weak spot just below his armpit, he hit it.

"Aaaah! You... you bastard!" The lynx held his side with his left arm, as he urged foreward. Tai Lung easily took another blow to his leg. It went dead. Kuwon's eyes went wide, as he fell over.

The snow leopard squinted at Kuwon. He bent over, and looked him in the eye, growling. "Next time you fight me, try mastering your own art, before you kill yourself." He smiled, as he turned around, finding Shifu was beating the battle in which he and Sky, Sorus, and Miraji fought.

Tai Lung looked over to Thailaan, who was standing aside, looking for something in a pigs house, rudely. She grabbed the pig by the collar of his shirt. "Don't you pigs know where the Dragon Scroll is? Don't you?!" She shook him hard. Her fur seemed to blow softly in the wind that was blowing in the house. She wore green leggings, and a dark red shirt, which had a white tree on the front of it. Her eyes were a golden-yellow. It looked much like she was much into the christmas spirit. She walked out of the house angrily, and stared at Tai Lung.

Tai Lung shook her out of his head, and bolted over to the battle that his old master was in, finding Thailaan did the same.

Po panted hard as he ran up the steep mountain, following that 'spirit' he thought was real. Maybe it was? He looked up again, finding the white cloud dissapearing into the ground, next to a rather large boulder. Thinking desperately, he rushed over to it, finding the soil next to it was a little dug up. Weird. The panda looked at it closely, finding a little scroll half buried in the soil. Squinting deeply in thought, he picked it up, and started to read, soon gasping.

Review please! Sorry... my chapters will be a bit longer now. See? There's hope! -looks away and sighs-

-Skyy.